Actresses on The Avengers shortlist revealed

Heat Vision | THR has a list of four actresses said to be on the shortlist to star in Joss Whedon’s The Avengers. Samuel L. Jackson, who plays Nick Fury in the film, was on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon on Thursday and first revealed that Marvel was conducting screen tests Friday (today) for the role, which Jackson revealed was for his “sidekick”. Here’s what Heat Vision reported:

V star Morena Baccarin is on that list. Also said to be vying for the part are Jessica Lucas, Cobie Smulders and Mary Elizabeth Winstead, who are still negotiating their test deals for the part of a key member of the espionage agency run by Nick Fury, played in the Marvel movies by Jackson. Some earlier speculation pegged the role to be that of Avengers team member Janet van Dyne/the Wasp, but Marvel declined to comment.

Bolding mine.

As with previous casting, the role would involve a nine-picture option for the studio, which means the role could be seen in subsequent Marvel movies.